Blog

GS 2

Neither the right to privacy nor the right to information

Source: https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/2023-08-08/th_chennai/articleGR1BJBCNQ-3838209.ece

Context: Nasscom claims DPDP Bill 2023 will boost the digital economy rather than prioritising privacy protection.

Relevance: GS 2

• The bill’s intention appears to legalize data mining rather than safeguarding privacy rights.
• A Supreme Court ruling in 2017 established the right to privacy amidst digital challenges.

Complementary vs. Competing Rights:

• Right to Information (RTI) Act 2005 provides transparency and accountability in government.
• Right to Privacy aims to protect individuals from government and private intrusions.
• Tensions between these rights emerge, as exemplified by MGNREGA’s data disclosure leading to misuse.
• DPDP Bill 2023 fails to address these tensions, making the government less transparent and citizens more transparent.

DPDP Bill 2023 Overview:

• Bill focuses on processing digital personal data while recognizing individual rights and lawful purposes.
• Broad definition of “lawful purposes” and government’s power to request information raise concerns.
• Sections 4(2) and 36 allow both government and private entities access to personal data.

Undermining the Right to Information:

• RTI Act 2005 anticipates tensions and exemptions from disclosing certain information.
• DPDP Bill 2023 weakens RTI by simplifying exemptions, undermining larger public interests.
• For example, public servants’ disclosure of immovable assets could be limited.

Ignoring Context and Shortcomings:

• DPDP Bill 2023 has flaws such as oversight by a government-appointed Data Protection Board.
• European GDPR sets higher data protection standards but faces criticism over data collection.
• Lack of universal literacy, digital and financial literacy, and an overburdened legal system in India reduce citizens’ ability to seek legal recourse for privacy harms.

Centre seeks more time to frame CAA rules

Source: https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/2023-08-08/th_chennai/articleGU0BJBOSA-3838226.ece

Context: The Union Home Ministry has been seeking extensions to frame the rules associated with the CAA.

Relevance: GS -2 Citizenship

Background:

• The Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), passed in 2019, facilitates citizenship for non-Muslim undocumented migrants from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh.
• The law has been ineffective since its enactment.

Extension Requests:

• The Ministry has requested an eighth extension to frame the rules of the CAA.
• The request was made to the parliamentary committee on subordinate legislation in the Lok Sabha.
• The extension has been granted by the committee.
• The previous extension request was made in January, pushing the deadline to June 30.

Passage of CAA:

• The CAA was passed on December 11, 2019.
• It received presidential assent on December 12 of the same year.

Rule-Framing Deadline and Process:

• According to the Manual on Parliamentary Work, ministries should frame rules governing legislation within six months after a law’s passage.
• If this deadline is not met, the ministry can seek an extension from the Committee on Subordinate Legislation.
• The extension request should include reasons for the delay.

Focus on Non-Muslim Migrants:

• The CAA aims to expedite citizenship for non-Muslim migrants from specific neighboring countries.

Ongoing Ineffectiveness:

• Despite being passed, the CAA remains unimplemented due to the absence of framing rules.
• The delays in rule formulation have led to the law’s inability to come into effect.

Continued Delays and Impact:

• The Home Ministry’s repeated extensions highlight the ongoing challenges in establishing a framework for the CAA.
• The lack of clarity and operational guidelines due to delayed rule-making impact the law’s intended objectives.

GS 3

India’s mining policy shift

Source: https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/2023-08-08/th_chennai/articleGJQBJB44A-3838308.ece

Context: On August 2, 2023, Parliament passed the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2023.

Relevance: GS Paper – 3 Issues Relating to Development

• The bill aims to attract private sector investment in the exploration of critical minerals by reclassifying certain minerals as “critical and strategic.”

Critical Minerals Importance:

• Minerals like lithium, cobalt, graphite, and rare earth elements (REEs) are essential for clean energy transitions and technological advancements.
• They play a role in electric vehicle batteries, energy storage, semiconductor manufacturing, defense equipment, aerospace, and more.
• Import dependence on these minerals leads to supply chain vulnerabilities and disruptions.

India’s Import Dependency:

• India heavily relies on imports for various critical minerals, including lithium, cobalt, nickel, and REEs.
• Lack of domestic supply leads to vulnerabilities, supply chain disruptions, and import dependency.

Role of Private Sector in Exploration:

• Studies suggest India’s geological potential for mineral resources is significant.
• Private sector participation in mineral exploration is crucial for discovering economically viable reserves.
• Different stages of exploration are categorized as per the United Nations Framework for Classification of Resources.

Lack of Private Participation:

• India has explored only a small fraction of its geological potential.
• Public sector entities like Geological Survey of India and Mineral Exploration Corporation Limited have led exploration with limited private sector involvement.

Bill’s Objectives and Changes:

• The Mines and Minerals Bill 2023 seeks to encourage private sector involvement in exploration.
• Six atomic minerals, including lithium, have been reclassified, allowing private sector entities to explore and mine them.
• Prohibited exploration activities are now allowed, and a new Exploration License (EL) is introduced.

Exploration License (EL):

• EL will be granted for five years (extendable by two) through competitive bidding.
• Private explorers bid on a share of the auction premium, eventually paid by mining lease holders.
• EL covers 29 minerals, including critical, strategic, and deep-seated minerals.
• EL allows activities up to 1,000 sq km, with retention of up to 25% of initially authorized area.

Challenges and Concerns:

• Revenue generation for private explorers is uncertain, as they receive a share of the premium post-mine auction.
• It could take years for revenue realization due to government clearances and complexities.
• Experts raise concerns about auctioning exploration licenses without a known value.

Global Comparisons:

• Countries like Australia involve private explorers in risk-taking, accelerating exploration.
• Unlike India, private explorers in other jurisdictions can sell their discoveries to miners.

Conclusion:

• The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill 2023 aims to boost private sector participation in critical mineral exploration.
• While it addresses certain challenges, concerns about revenue realization and auctioning process validity remain.
• The bill’s implementation will determine its success in encouraging private investment and enhancing India’s mineral exploration capabilities.

The quest for a room-temperature superconductor

Source: https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/2023-08-08/th_chennai/articleGR1BJBCN4-3838215.ece

Context: Physicists in South Korea reported synthesizing a room-temperature superconducting material.

Relevance: GS 3 Science and Technology

• Room-temperature superconductors can carry electric current with zero losses and have applications in various fields.
• Superconductivity research has evolved with cooling technologies and techniques to verify materials’ superconducting properties.

Importance of Room-Temperature Superconductors:

• Room-temperature superconductors could revolutionize power transmission, industrial processes, and scientific applications.
• Materials that achieve superconductivity at or near room temperature are highly sought after.

Beyond the hype

Context: Recent claims from researchers in South Korea about a room-temperature superconductor called LK-99 have garnered significant interest.

Relevance: GS 3 Science and Technology

Introduction:

• Room-temperature superconductivity claims generate widespread attention and hype in the condensed-matter physics field.

Importance of Room-Temperature Superconductors:

• Traditional superconductors exhibit zero electrical resistance and have various industrial, research, and diagnostic applications.
• The quest is for materials that exhibit superconductivity at room temperature without extreme cooling or pressure.

LK-99 Claim Details:

• LK-99 is a copper-substituted lead apatite, claimed to be a room-temperature and ambient-pressure superconductor.
• Previous claims of room-temperature superconductors have failed to withstand independent scrutiny.

Need for Independent Verification:

• Room-temperature and pressure superconductors are highly valuable and prestigious.
• Scientists may rush to publish results before thorough verification.
• Independent verification by qualified scientists is crucial for validating such claims.
• The South Korean group must share all data to allow proper verification.

Challenges in Verification:

• Verifying superconductivity requires sophisticated equipment and precise information on material creation.
• Some claims, like one this year, have shared synthesis instructions but not samples, hindering proper scientific evaluation.

Caution for Non-Experts:

• Due to the high stakes and small margin of error, non-experts should wait for qualified research groups to independently verify claims.
• Rushing to conclusions without proper verification could be misleading.

Conclusion:

• The allure of revolutionary technology should be tempered by the need for robust verification in the field of room-temperature superconductivity.
• Independent scrutiny and data sharing are essential to determine the validity of such groundbreaking claims.

Prelims

Exercise Malabar to be held from August 11-21

Context: The 31st edition of the Malabar multilateral exercise will be conducted off Sydney, Australia.

• The exercise includes participation from India, Australia, Japan, and the U.S.
• Australia is hosting the exercise for the first time.
• It will be held in the East Australian exercise area, covering a significant sea expanse off Sydney.
• The exercise will feature both harbor and sea phases.

Australia’s Involvement:

• Australia is also hosting the Sea Power conference from November 7 to 9.
• India has received an invitation to attend the conference, and sources indicate India’s likely participation.
• After Exercise Malabar, the India-Australia bilateral naval exercise, AUSINDEX, will follow.
• Malabar has been described as one of India’s most complex naval exercises in the past.

Significance:

• The participation of India, Australia, Japan, and the U.S. in Malabar reflects strong maritime cooperation among these countries.
• The exercises aim to enhance interoperability, strengthen maritime security, and deepen defense ties between the participating nations.